• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-99
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• 2014

A small dinoflagellate, Ansanella granifera gen. et sp. nov., was isolated from estuarine and marine waters, and examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, the identity of the sequences (3,663-bp product) of the small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2), and D1-D3 large subunit (LSU) rDNA were determined. This newly isolated, thin-walled dinoflagellate has a type E eyespot and a single elongated apical vesicle, and it is closely related to species belonging to the family Suessiaceae. A. granifera has 10-14 horizontal rows of amphiesmal vesicles, comparable to Biecheleria spp. and Biecheleriopsis adriatica, but greater in number than in other species of the family Suessiaceae. Unlike Biecheleria spp. and B. adriatica, A. granifera has grana-like thylakoids. Further, A. granifera lacks a nuclear fibrous connective, which is present in B. adriatica. B. adriatica and A. granifera also show a morphological difference in the shape of the margin of the cingulum. In A. granifera, the cingular margin formed a zigzag line, and in B. adriatica a straight line, especially on the dorsal side of the cell. The episome is conical with a round apex, whereas the hyposome is trapezoidal. Cells growing photosynthetically are $10.0-15.0{\mu}m$ long and $8.5-12.4{\mu}m$ wide. The cingulum is descending, the two ends displaced about its own width. Cells of A. granifera contain 5-8 peripheral chloroplasts, stalked pyrenoids, and a pusule system, but lack nuclear envelope chambers, a nuclear fibrous connective, lamellar body, rhizocysts, and a peduncle. The main accessory pigment is peridinin. The SSU, ITS regions, and D1-D3 LSU rDNA sequences differ by 1.2-7.4%, >8.8%, and >2.5%, respectively, from those of the other known genera in the order Suessiales. Moreover, the SSU rDNA sequence differed by 1-2% from that of the three most closely related species, Polarella glacialis, Pelagodinium bei, and Protodinium simplex. In addition, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA sequence differed by 16-19% from that of the three most closely related species, Gymnodinium corii, Pr. simplex, and Pel. bei, and the LSU rDNA sequence differed by 3-4% from that of the three most closely related species, Protodinium sp. CCMP419, B. adriatica, and Gymnodinium sp. CCMP425. A. granifera had a 51-base pair fragment in domain D2 of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA, which is absent in the genus Biecheleria. In the phylogenetic tree based on the SSU and LSU sequences, A. granifera is located in the large clade of the family Suessiaceae, but it forms an independent clade.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2022

Gray hair is a representative sign of aging. Intrinsic aging, stress, and the external environment cause hair graying. Stress is known to be a major factor in the early onset of hair graying. We previously found that Pueraia lobata root extract (PLRE) can prevent hair graying by promoting melanin formation. However, it remains unknown whether PLRE can prevent hair graying induced by conditions of stress. In this study, we confirmed the effect of PLRE on stress-induced hair graying. A reporter cell line was newly constructed to confirm the expression of microphthalamia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the main transcription factor for melanin production. MITF expression and melanin pigmentation were reduced in human hair follicle tissue treated with the stress hormone cortisol or H₂O₂ to induce oxidative stress. PLRE treatment restored MITF expression and increased the amount of melanin pigment in the hair follicle. The expression of Tyrosinase related proteins-2 (TRP-2), a melanin synthesis enzyme in the hair follicle, also increased. In conclusion, PLRE can effectively prevent the inhibition of melanin synthesis by stress hormones and oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1377-1384
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• 2011

Astaxanthin (ATX) is a red-orange carotenoid pigment that occurs naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of ATX on the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-${\kappa}B$) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, we tested the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX by scavenging assay. iNOS and NF-${\kappa}B$ expressions were determined by immunoblot analysis. Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) were assayed by ELISA. NO production was monitored by measuring the amount of nitrite. ROS was examined by using the 2', 7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method. At a concentration of 100 ${\mu}M$, ATX inhibited the expression level of LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$, as well as the production of LPS-induced NO and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$), by suppressing iNOS expression. In particular, the maximal inhibition rate of IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ production by ATX (100 ${\mu}M$) was 65.2----- and 21.2-----, respectively. In addition, ATX inhibited the LPS-induced transcriptional activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and this was associated with suppressing the translocations of NF-${\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to the nucleus. Moreover, at various concentrations (25-100 ${\mu}M$), ATX inhibited the intracellular level of ROS. At a concentration of 5 mg/ml, the superoxide radical scavenging activity of ATX was 1.33 times higher than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol of the same concentration. These results showed that ATX inhibited the expression of iNOS and the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines resulting from ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in macrophages. Furthermore, ATX was found to be more effective in superoxide radical scavenging activities compared to ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. These findings are expected to strengthen the position of ATX as anti-inflammatory medicine and antioxidant.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.463-469
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• 2014

Sorghum has been consumed as one of the important staple food in the semiarid tropics of Africa and Asia. Sorghum is rich in starch, protein, essential vitamins and minerals and grows relatively well in dry climate regions when it compared with other staple food crops. Sorghum has taken an increased interest due to several studies that report about the beneficial effects of sorghum on human health. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidative and activity of extract of milling by-products (hull and bran) of Korean sorghum cultivar, 'Hwanggeaumchal' as well as its grain. Hull extract showed the highest total polyphenol contents ($29.7{\pm}0.2mg\;GAE/100g$) and major four pigments content ($322.6{\pm}14.5mg/100g$). From results of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, hull extract ($IC_{50}$, $6.3{\pm}0.1{\mu}g/mL$) was also showed the strongest antioxidative effects. Bran and grain showed similar polyphenol, pigments contents and antioxidative effects. We determined cell viability by MTT assay and evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity by measuring nitric oxide (NO) of hull, bran and grain methanol extract (0.5% HCl v/v) on RAW 264.7 cells. Hull extract treatment was significantly decreased NO production with dose-dependant manner. Apigeninidin as one of the major pigment of hull was showed inhibitory activity against NO production without cytotoxicitiy. Therefore, sorghum milling by-products can be used as a good source of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory agents.